Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 45842, William Gay, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
N 6
Gay, William
S. 45842
Born in N.C.
CONTENTS

3165
Florida
William Gay
of Hamilton Co in the State of Florida - who was a private in the Fla. Comp. by Captain Peter De Cohe of the regt commanded by Col Lytle in the North Carolina line for 11 months.
$15842
Jacksonville
Inscribed on the Roll of Florida at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 th day of Sept 1839 to suit the family of Peter Mineral Springs, Florida
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1839 $311. Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar '40 18.
$327 58
{ Revolutionary } { Not June 7. }
Recorded by J. M. Curdy Book E 2 Vol. 9 Page 14
Letter to 3 rd Auditor 15 Sep Paid at the Treasury u the Act of Mar 6. April from 4 March 1831. to 4 Sep 1840. Agt notification 30. Sep 1841 see letter to Hon. D. Levy Oct. 7. 1844

Territory of Florida. Middle District, } V. S. County of Hamilton }
On this third day of June A.D. One Thousand Eight- hundred Anomaly appeared, thirty nine, before the Court of the Middle District of Florida for Hamilton County now sitting; William Gay a resident of the Co. County of Hamilton & the Territory & District aforesaid, aged about Eighty one or two years, Who on being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June the Seventh day 1832. That he was in Col. Little's regiment of which one Col. Bruce was Major & that he was attached to the Company of S. P. Inf. commanded by Capt. Peter DeBoke, that he entered the said service some time about the month of July of 1780 or 1782 (about the middle of that month; that (from evident defect of memory) he does not remem- ber to recollect which of the years '80. or '82 in which he entered) but is confident of the fact of his having served the term of Thirteen Months which term ex- pires with the end of the war & that he continued in the service in the same regt. in which he began. That the only engagement he was in, was with a party of negroes armed & equipped by the British in the Town of Charleston in the State of South Carolina; that on this particular expedition, he was, as near as he can now recollect, commanded by a Capt. Brayn M c Coleman. That his right was stationed on the Ashley River about Twenty five miles above Charleston in the State of South Carolina. That he was a resident of the State of North Carolina County of Edgecomb at

the time he entered the service. That he was drafted into the S d Service. That he marched with his Regt. from the state of North Carolina to the lower part of South Carolina to the place on the Ashley River in S d States where the Regt. was stationed as already stated; While in the S d Service, he served in the same service in a kind of irregulars men engaged (as he thinks) since commanded by a Col l Stewart and a Maj r Eggleston. (He only thinks these were of the regular Army.) That he has no papers within his reach, tending to show his services; nor does he know of any one living, whose testimony he can procure, to testify as to his services; That he relinquishes all claim to any other pension except what he expects to obtain by this declaration. That he draws no pension from any State, nor is he on any pension roll of any state, or of the United States to his knowledge. That the reason he has not hitherto obtained a pension is owing to his not having found any one competent in directing him in the course necessary to doing so; that a Mr. Levy a lawyer of St Augustine once undertook to procure it for him, but has failed from some cause in doing so; this he undertook about four years ago. That he was then living in Alachua County in this Territory.
Being asked the following questions; gave the answers thereto, severally & respectively as follows: 1. When & in what year were you born? He answers that he was born in the County of Edgecombe in the state of North Carolina about the year One thousand seven hundred and fifty eight; but from defect of memory cannot

say definitely as to time.
2 Have you any record of your age? to this he answers, that he had in Georgia a record of his age, but that he came away & forgot it.
3 Where were you living when you entered the service of the United States? Answer. That he was living in Edgecombe County in the State of North Carolina.
4 Where have you lived since the Revolutionary war? Answer - In North Carolina, the State of Georgia and in this Territory where he now resides.
5 How were you called into the service of the United States? Ans. by draft in the proportion of one in every twenty.
On being asked to name some of the regular Officers who were with the Troops in the same service with the Company to which he belonged, or any of the officers of the Continental or Militia regts: which he might have recollection of; he answers that he can state no other names than those of Col. Stewart & Maj. Eggleston; that he has forgotten the names of all others, and can state no other circumstances but those above related.
6 Did you ever receive a discharge from the service? if so, by whom was it given & what has become of it? He answers, that he recd. a discharge from his Capt. Peter De Coke, and that he left it in North Carolina at the time he

he left the State for Georgia, to which latter State he removed some years after the termination of the war, and that he did not then think his discharge of any importance to him, & that he has never been back to North Carolina since he left for Georgia.
He was then asked to state the names of persons having a knowledge of him, and of his character for veracity that might be able to testify as to their belief as to his claims for services as a Revolutionary soldier. He answered that all the inhabitants of the County can speak knowingly of his general character, but names particularly, his neighbor the Rev. Joseph Bryant and deacn. S. Whitehurst the latter of which has known him for about twenty five years.
William his X Guy mark.
Crown & subscribed 3 in open Court 3 Arch. M c Rae 3 Clerk

32.906
Am Gay Florida.

Superior Court for the Counties of Columbia and Alachua in the District of East Florida. December term 1833.
Sworn:
On this twenty seventh day of December in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred and thirty Three personally appeared before the Superior Court of the Eastern District of Florida William Gay a resident of the County of Columbia aforesaid in the said District, aged seventy four years five months and fourteen days, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June seventh, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year One thousand seven hundred and eighty two with a recruiting officer named Armstrong (he thinks), and served in the Second Regiment (as well as he can recollect) of the North Carolina line under the following named officers to wit: General Greene , Colonel Archibald Little , Major McRae (whose first name he believes was Ben ) as Field Officers, and Captain Peter Ducot , First Lieutenant John Ford , Second Lieutenant Bell , and Orderly Sergeant Charles Austervant as company officers; that he left the service in the same year of 1782; that he resided in the County of Edgecombe in the said State of North Carolina when he entered the service, that he marched through North Carolina to the State of South Carolina to the head quarters on Ashley River , that while there stationed he was engaged in several skirmishes while upon reconnoitring expeditions to the British lines, in one of which the party to which he was attached lost three men and killed four of the enemy, and in another of which he was engaged against a party of mounted black men, of whom ten were killed and as many taken prisoners.

He hereby relinquished every claim whatever to any other other pension or annuity, except the present - and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state
his William X Gay Mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day aforesaid, the deponent being blind and making his mark.
Robert Raymond Reed Judge
And the said Court does hereby acknowledge declare its opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
Robert Raymond Reed Judge of the Superior Court for Dist of East Florida
Superior Court. } Columbia County. } Dist: of E. Florida } ss.
I, James Dell, Clerk of the Superior Court for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains a true copy of the original proceedings of the said Court

in the matter of the application of William Bay, for a pension, faithfully and correctly transcribed from the records of said Court as they now exist in my office.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of Court, this twenty third day of February A. D. 1835.
James Dell
History of Florida District of East Florida ;
I hereby certify that James Bell is Clerk of the Superior Court for Colombie County and that his attesta- tion above written is in due form.
Given under my hand this third day of March 1835.
Robt. Maynard (Keeley) Judge Supt South- Dist. E. Florn

Mineral Springs May 13
June 1.
Mr Wm Gay Flor.
To the Manager of the petition office in Washington City
Fort Flinders May 7th 1839

East Florida May 7 th 1839
To the manager of the Pension Office Sir without enny acquaintance with you I write By way of inquiry to know whither enny of my Claim for pension have been paid or not for I imployd Captain Beall to Collect it for me But have Rec d nothing Sir I served faithfull and should like to know why I cannot obtain my Right Sir write to me and Direct you Letter East Florida Spring post office William Gay

Mar 6 Mar 6
and Mar 6,
Capt. B. L. Beall Presb.

W m Gay private Col A Lythgoe Regt. Capt Peter & his company. States that he made a declaration some years since in Alachua County E Florida. that his papers were placed in the hands of Mr Levy of St Augustine. He further states that he entered the service in or about the 20 June 1782 for 18 months and that he was discharged at the 'Hillsboro' in Sept 1783.
Will Col Edwards be pleased to give me all the information in regard to the case.
Very resp y
Mr O'Callaghan
Ed Bruce
Capt A S C
March 6. 1835

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
September 16 th 1841.
Sir :
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," William Gay, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Jacksonville, Fla. Agency, at the rate of Thirty Six Dollars and 66 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March 1831, to the 4 th Sept. 1840.
Respectfully yours,
William L. Gantt
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

Mr. Gas Florida
admitted
P. Cap Beets Cal Sylvia M. Clin.
P. 11 months, $36. \frac{66}{100}
on printed list of payments made to those who reside for 18 months, recd - $76. 60.
Act 7 June 32
James A. Peden Mineral Spring Florida

I know Joseph Bryant a citizen of Hamilton County a chryssman by profession Certify that I am well acquainted with William Gay who has sworn & subscribed to the above declaration That I believe him to be eighty one or two years of age; that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood in which he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and I concur in that opinion. That I know him to be a man of good character, sober, industrious & honest.
Sworn & subscribed before me in Joseph Bryant open court to ch. M c Rea Clk
I Daniel S. Whitehurst a resident of Hamilton County, hereby certify That I have been well acquainted with William Gay who has sworn and subscribed to the foregoing declaration, having known him for twenty five years. That I believe him to be Eighty one or two years of age; That he is respected & beloved in the neighborhood in which he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and I concur in that opinion; I further state that I have frequently heard him

Speak of his revolutionary services long before the passage of the act of Congress for the relief of Revolutionary Soldiers under which he now claims a pension.
Sworn & subscribed Daniel G. White here to before me in open Court.
Arch d M c Rae
Clerk
Whereupon the Court hereby declare its opinion that the above named applicant, was a revolution- ary soldier & served as he states.
I Arch d M c Rae Clerk of the Superior Court for Hamilton County, Middle District of Florida, Do hereby certify that the fore- going, contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of William Gay for a pension. In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office this Fourth day of June A.D. 1839. In the Independence of the

United States the Society this year.
Arch. McKim Clerk

William Gay, Florida R.R., Act June 7. 1832, at $36:66 per Annum.
Be pleased to say to whom the first payment was made, viz from 4. March 1831 to 4 th Sept. 1840.
Pension Office Sept 25. 1844.
Paid to William B. Ross of Jacksonville Florida as part of the Pension —

Suspended, in letter 4 April 1835, to Messrs Gouglap & Levy do. to B.L. Beall, Aug. 7. 1838. do. 6 th March 1839 let 27 Apr 39 to J.A. Peden. Let to app c June 1. 1839.
Act 7 July 1832

Ch Mineral Springs Mo April 13-
XX
Inat
Nov.
Jamie L Edwards Esq. Chairman of Tens Washington D.C.

Municipal Spring East Florida April 8 th 1839. James I. Edmonds Esq. Commissioner of Pension Washington City
Or Sir
I had the honor of addressing you about the sixth of October 1838. enclosing the affidavit of Mr Gay relative to his revolutionary services. viz. The day & month of the Year 1782 in which the said Gay entered the service of the United States, which was all that was necessary for the collection of the Pension of the said Gay, judging from the statement of Capt Benjamin L Bell of the U S Army in whom I refer you for further particulars, as I understand he is now in Washington City. I was induced to take the above course from the representation of Capt Bell who it seems was well acquainted with the nature of the case above alluded to. If you have read the communication alluded to of Octo r 1838, you will oblige me by replying to it immediately, or I shall be forced to appeal to a higher Tribunal. in the hope of

having justice awarded to us when it is strictly due
I am with becoming Respect Yrs &c.
James A Beden
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

W. Hills early

State of North Carolina
Secretary of State's Office
I William Hill Secretary of State in and for the State aforesaid, do certify, that it appears from the musterrolls of the Continental line of this State in the revolutionary war that William Gay a private in Cap t Bacots Company of the 10 th Regiment, enlisted in the year 1782 for the term of 18 months and that nothing more is said of him on said rolls.
Given under my hand this 31 st day of March 1835.
W. Hill

Territory of Florida. } Hamilton County }
Sup. Court Middle Dist. Hamilton County Fla. June 24. 1839.
By order of the Court held on the fourth day of the present Month - Judge Randall presiding. I herewith hand you the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of application of William Gay for a Pension for Revolutionary services.
Arch. M c Rae Clerk.
Mr. James A. Peden has hitherto for the present occasion attended to & befriended Mr Gay in this business, and as I understand continues to do so. He desires me here to add, that in the event of these proceedings being satisfactory evidence of Mr. G's claims in case his name is placed on the pension roll, Mr. P. will be glad to hear the result & in fact to rec d the certificate of pension for Mr Gay. Yours &c. To J. L. Edwards Esq r . } Arch. M c Rae Pension Agent Wash. }

Mr. G. H. ...
March 26. 1835 Pension office
12

Recd 28 Mar
St Augustine March 4. 1855.
Hon
Sir
Nearly a year past, we forwarded to you by William Office the original proceedings in the matter of the application of William Gay, a Revolutionary soldier, for a pension. Not having since heard any thing from the Department in relation to it, we presume it may have miscarried, and therefore take now the liberty to enclose to you a copy of the proceedings from the record of the Court in which they were had, certified according to law. Being personally acquainted with the situation and reputation of Mr. Gay, we have no hesitation in stating that he is a meritorious subject for the bounty proposed by the Government to be extended to those comprised in the provisions of the act of Congress under which his application is made, and have therefore to ask the earliest attention to his claim, which the convenience of the Department may permit.
We have the honor to be
Very Resp y .
Yours Ab t Sir
Douglas & Levy
Hon. Lewis Cass Secy of War.

Oct 27
25
W Florida add: proof Abner Oct 1832.
James L Edwards Esqr Commissioner of Pensions Washington City

Min d Spring East Florida
Octo 6 th 1838.
James L Edwards Esqr. Commissioner of Pension, Washington City
Dr Sir
I have
been informed by capt. Beele W. S. Gray com. that he was in possession of one of yr letters stating that the name of William Gay Johnson of this Territory, whose affidavit I herewith transmit you, was recorded on the Books of the Pension office. & that the only difficulty presenting itself in the way of Mr Gay receiving the amount due him for Revolutionary services, was some discrepancy in a former statement, probably the day and month of the year Seventeen Hundred & Eighty two in which he entered the service of the U.S. all of which are furnished you by the enclosed affidavit of the said Wm Gay.
Should this prove satisfactory, which I sincerely hope it may, you will please furnish me at the Mineral Spring East Florida with a certificate of Pension for the Mr Gay. The cause of Humanity demands that every Patriot & good man should interest himself in the welfare of these Revolutionary Veterans.
Yours.

I am personally acquainted with Mr. Gay - & can vouch for his sobriety, honesty & uprightness of character, as such is his independence as kind of character that he would not now ask for this (though his due) even it not that ex- treme suffering, arrearage of the pecuniary of life, drives him to this course. You will ob- -erve by Mr. Gay's statement that he is eighty -one years old. In addition to his extreme age & other bodily infirmities, his vision is al- -most entirely extinct. So much so. That he can- -ot distinguish one person from another at the distance of a few yards. Mr. Gay has been particularly unfortunate. His stock of cattle on the produce of which, he was mainly de- -pendent for support, have been lost or des- -troyed during the Seminole War and further in addition to all these misfortunes Mr. Gay in his old age together with two helpless females, numbering in all three in family, are solely dependent on the labor of one negro for at best, but a se- -anty subsistence. I sincerely hope that the enclosed affidavit, together with the foregoing statements, may ensure a speedy transmission of the aforementioned Certifi- -cates of Pension.
I am Sir with much Respect Yrs H. Jones James A. Sedon

INVALID.
✓ Reg RECORDED File No. 45,842
William Gay Florida
Act 7 June 1831 Index: Vol. 3 , Page 187
[Arrangement of 1870.]